]]>Technology plays a central role in our lives, and we spend a lot of money buying the latest devices or just replacing broken ones. The real question, though, is whether we’re spending our money wisely. Too many users are overspending on devices because they don’t understand what items are smart investments and how to avoid unnecessary debt.

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Wants Versus Needs

The most important factor in minimizing excessive technology spending is to recognize the difference between what you want and what you need. For example, most people opt to replace their phones regularly because they use them constantly. But as cell phones get larger, acting like mini-tablets, does it make sense to upgrade them as often? Many experts say no; you’d get more function for less money by buying a new tablet.

Obviously, the fanciest tablets are more expensive than a new phone, but if you’re looking for a device to take notes, read books, and surf the web at home, a basic tablet will take some of the wear off your phone and help both devices last longer.

Note The Trends

Another way to save money on your devices is by paying attention to market trends. You don’t want to buy incompatible pieces of technology or something that’s about to be obsolete. Headphone technology is changing rapidly right now, for example, and they may be going out of style with the rise of focused audio. This new technology will make it possible for users to listen to audio without wearing any device, but it also means that you might want to skip the new headphones and wait for the next generation of tech, especially if you tend to be an early adopter.

Early Adopter Issues

Speaking of early adoption, the tendency to buy early and often is one of the easiest ways to get into debt. For example, Apple has several new devices out this fall, but they’ll all come at a significant premium. To afford them, though, many opt to put the devices on credit cards and end up paying high interest rates. If you pay only the minimum every month, you’ll be paying for the device longer than you’re using it.

The other problem with early adoption is that many of these devices still have functional bugs. Just think about the first Apple Watch with its ballooning batteries – compared to the newer iterations, it wasn’t a good investment. Waiting for reviews and updates can help you get the most out of your devices.

Know The Specs

Finally, to get the most out of your devices and avoid excess spending, it’s critical that you recognize what specifications will serve you best. Many people think they want a very thin laptop, for example, but in reality, thin laptops overheat quickly and limit what you can do. When you have a deeper understanding of how devices work, such as how quickly you need your computer to run or how much memory you need, you’re able to make smarter purchasing decisions and save money.

Many people buy devices for today, not thinking about their needs down the line. If you’re committed to keeping your budget under control, though, you need to ensure you’re making a purchase that will last for the next several years. We may live in a world designed around planned obsolescence, but we can extend the function of our devices by buying smarter.

]]>https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/are-you-overspending-on-the-wrong-technology/feed/02090251https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/are-you-overspending-on-the-wrong-technology/After Making A Big Fuss About Group FaceTime, Apple Is Delaying It To A Later Updatehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/valuewalk/tNbc/~3/tDSpCDsR340/
https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/apple-delaying-ios-12-group-facetime/#respondTue, 14 Aug 2018 15:58:04 +0000https://www.valuewalk.com/?p=2090216When Apple announced the iOS 12 software at WWDC in June, it made a huge fuss about Group FaceTime calls. It would allow you to make FaceTime video calls to up to 31 people simultaneously. Apple fans were excited. But […]

When Apple announced the iOS 12 software at WWDC in June, it made a huge fuss about Group FaceTime calls. It would allow you to make FaceTime video calls to up to 31 people simultaneously. Apple fans were excited. But only about a month before the iOS 12 public rollout, we have learned that Apple has delayed the Group FaceTime to a future software update. The iOS 12 will launch next month without one of its most hyped features.

Group FaceTime delayed on both iOS 12 and macOS Mojave

Apple revealed at WWDC that the FaceTime would get filters, Animoji, and Memoji features. Group FaceTime will also not be part of the macOS Mojave rollout next month. It means both iOS and macOS users will have to wait a little longer to be able to use the feature.

On Monday, Apple released the iOS 12 developer beta 7 for testing. The tech giant said in the release notes that Group FaceTime had been “removed from the initial release of iOS 12.” It now plans to ship the feature “in a future software update later this fall.” It indicates that the feature could be part of the iOS 12.1 or 12.2 update rather than iOS 12.4.

The Group FaceTime rollout is unlikely to go the way of AirPlay 2. Apple had announced AirPlay 2 as part of iOS 11 last year, but released it in May this year as part of iOS 11.4. AirPlay 2 is an advanced wireless streaming technology. Apple’s release notes suggest Group FaceTime won’t be pushed back to 2019.

A lot of Apple fans had been waiting to try the new FaceTime video calling feature with up to 32 people. They are going to be a little disappointed following the revelation. Fortunately, developers and public beta testers already have access to the feature. But the beta software could be buggy, so do not install it on your primary device, especially if you rely heavily on it.

If you do want to video chat with more than one person, you can use other apps for now. WhatsApp and Instagram both support group video calling features for up to four people. Facebook Messenger supports video calls with up to 50 users and Skype supports up to 25 people.

Apple takes down developer beta hours after release

Apple removed the iOS 12 developer beta 7 from its servers just hours after making it available to developers. The tech giant hasn’t offered a clarification on why it pulled the beta software, or when it plans to release it back. Developers could still access the IPSW file, though. Numerous developers who were quick to install it said it could be due to bugs and performance issues. The bugs could also affect the rollout of the public beta.

No joke, strongly consider skipping this beta. It’s super slow and will probably get pulled https://t.co/PyYttOsUHK

MacRumors forum member OldSchoolMacGuy found that apps on the seventh developer beta took more than 10 seconds to load on the iPhone X. A restart didn’t fix the issue, but in some cases the devices returned to their normal speeds after about ten minutes. Beta versions of any software often contain tons of bugs, and iOS 12 is no exception. That’s why experts recommend public testers to install beta software only on their secondary devices.

Many other developers also complained about non-functioning notification center and lock screen, and sluggish animations.

Though Group FaceTime will be missing from the iOS 12 rollout next month, the software will bring a number of new features. They include Siri Shortcuts, improved augmented reality, Memoji, more Animoji characters, better parental controls, and Screen Time. The Screen Time allows you to track how much time you spend on your device and within individual apps. You can then set a daily time limit on each app. The iOS 12 also promises to offer faster performance such as 50% faster keyboard display and 70% faster swipe to the camera, even on older devices.

Value Investor Mohnish Pabrai's Key Holdings - The Best Bargains

Transcript

Value investor hot when spy right. And he's not afraid to travel the world to find the best bargains and has been monitoring his moves to tell us about his bets in the quarter gone by what he's been buying what he's been selling.

Well I see. He is in fact you know the biggest investors that the street Jacks may closely. In fact in the recent couple of months also used time and again said that he looks at me as his biggest most attractive markets to have multiband a month before he gains in the near future. And in terms of the long term as well here are some top holdings that he has eyes off the end of the June quarter are those stocks that he is betting on are very industrious continues to be Dompig just like Doleac or not. Who's also invested Fabbri in green industries. Noonish Barbara has about nine point eight percent stake there a bit more than one dollar you can own. So clearly data and that series continues to be his topic followed by names like some degree TV he was nearly eight and a half percent stake. There's also Zankoul home finance that is one name he has entered into in the quarter gone by his Wendigo is about 6 percent stake. They're going to develop buzz that is another name when each Kobra is bullish on he has about five point four percent stake in that company. He also owns. Five point four percent stake in healthcare global as well. Not talking about some joining that has happened in his board for you in the quarter gone by as far as the Indian equity investments go. He has in fact added across the board we've seen small additions happen to most of the holdings that he has invested in the markets and he is also in a couple of names. ITX in the energy exchange is one name way. He has an account that gives three things is what he has done in the quarter gone by followed by Gavidi seat and also Gordon in finance. These are full of names that McNeish Bob Wright has added on to his board for you in the quarter gone by.

]]>https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/mohnish-pabrai-best-bargains/feed/02090102https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/mohnish-pabrai-best-bargains/The Rise Of The Health Care Robotics [INFOGRAPHIC]http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/valuewalk/tNbc/~3/7OxCH_9Fk3I/
https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/rise-health-care-robotics/#respondTue, 14 Aug 2018 15:06:44 +0000https://www.valuewalk.com/?p=2090225In the year 2000, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the da Vinci Surgical system, the first robotic surgical aid. Since its introduction, surgeons have used da Vinci to complete more than 20,000 procedures. Simultaneously, medical researchers have developed […]

]]>In the year 2000, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the da Vinci Surgical system, the first robotic surgical aid. Since its introduction, surgeons have used da Vinci to complete more than 20,000 procedures. Simultaneously, medical researchers have developed many innovative robotic technologies. As the public grows more familiar with these advanced systems, health care robotics are becoming a strong marketing point for health care institutions.

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Robotic technology is becoming so advanced that engineers have developed ways to give robots a sense of touch using artificial skin. This capability is a major development in the field. The technology has the potential to drastically improve the quality-of-life for patients with severe disabilities.

In recent years, the use of robots for health care applications is rising. As new discoveries emerge, the promulgation of robots in the medical field is growing rapidly. Medical robots typically fall under two general categories; devices that assume repetitive and manual tasks and telemedicine robots - the latter which helps patients who are restricted to their homes access services.

Most often, large institutions and academic medical centers make use of these technologies. Still, in some patients’ homes, robotic assistants aid seniors and other patients with activities of daily living (ADL) and help others learn to walk again. There are larger machines used to lift patients and smaller machines that keep homebound seniors company. Elsewhere, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is using an intelligent management system that sorts, sterilizes and tracks surgical instruments, and in some hospitals, mobile robots deliver pharmaceuticals, supplies and test results. The units, which resemble oversize filing cabinets, fulfill the same role as human hospital runners.

While there are many amazing innovations emerging, health care organizations are still investigating whether the devices improve operations and streamline costs. In the meantime, nurses and other health care professionals are adjusting to a new health care environment. It's likely that these technologies will benefit health care professionals who work on the front lines of service. The devices allow professionals, such as nurses, to spend more time with patients and complete administrative tasks more efficiently.

Machines can never replace the ability of nurses to express empathy and share compassion. Still, many nurses may wonder how robotic assistants will affect their careers. One day, nurses and robot working side-by-side in the health care setting may become a common phenomenon.

]]>https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/rise-health-care-robotics/feed/02090225https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/rise-health-care-robotics/Blue Light From Your Phone May Make You Blind [STUDY]http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/valuewalk/tNbc/~3/4hFnErSkhX8/
https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/blue-light-phone-make-blind/#respondTue, 14 Aug 2018 14:31:23 +0000https://www.valuewalk.com/?p=2090213Blue light is almost omnipresent nowadays; it is emitted by computers, televisions and smartphones. However, if the finding of a new study is anything to go by, one must stay away from this dreaded light for as long as possible. […]

Blue light is almost omnipresent nowadays; it is emitted by computers, televisions and smartphones. However, if the finding of a new study is anything to go by, one must stay away from this dreaded light for as long as possible.

How are you damaging your eyes?

According to researchers from the University of Toledo, the blue light is changing the cells in our eyes, and thus, could accelerate blindness. In the study, where the researchers studied the impact of blue light on our eyes, it was found that this light triggers “toxic” reactions in the retinal molecules, which are responsible for sensing light and signaling the brain. Findings were published on July 5 in Scientific Reports.

One of the study’s authors and assistant professor in the University of Toledo’s department of chemistry and biochemistry, Ajith Karunarathne, said that the harmful effects of blue light are well known, but the study explains “how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop.”

Further, the study claims that blue light supports the generation of toxic chemical reactions that kill photoreceptors, which are used by the retina to allow people to see. Once photoreceptors are killed, they can’t be restored. This leads to an incurable eye disease, called macular degeneration, which results in blindness.

“Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they’re dead, they’re dead for good,” said one of the students involved in the study. Blue light is claimed to have a shorter wavelength and comparatively more energy.

In the U.S., about 11 million people suffer from some sort of macular degeneration, and the number is expected to double by 2050, claims a report published on BrightFocus Foundation, a nonprofit organization.

How to limit blue light effects?

Despite constant warnings from the health advocates, the problems associated with blue light will only get worse. On average, American adults spend more than 11 hours a day looking at screens and check their smartphones about every ten minutes, a 2016 Nielsen poll found.

The good news is that there might be a way to stop cells from dying. Karunarathne has found that one type of molecule – antioxidant alpha tocopherol – which comes from Vitamin E, can prevent a poisonous reaction.

Since prevention is always better than cure, there are ways to help you keep the blue light effects in check. You can use glasses that block the harmful effects of the blue light. Experts advise that avoiding digital devices an hour before bedtime could also relax your eyes and help you get a good sleep.

Also, blinking is a good exercise if your job involves constantly looking at a screen. Watching the screen constantly lowers the reflexes and tear production, and leads to dry eyes. For those, who can’t avoid smartphones even during the night, smartphone manufacturers have come up with a night mode, where the screen turns yellow, thus reducing the blue light.

“If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cell phone, it’s not great but it seems tolerable,” said visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Dr. John Payton. “Some cell phone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea.”

Features to check your smartphone addiction

Apart from the night mode, mobile manufacturers are coming up with features to limit the use of smartphones. This, in turn, would lower the impact of blue light as well. With the Android Pie, Google has introduced a dashboard to track users’ phone usage. The dashboard will tell users the time spent on the apps, the number of times they unlock their device, and more. Overall, the feature would help users know how addicted they are to their smartphone.

Further, Android users now have the ability to set time limits for the app. Also, a new “shush” mode has been added, which puts the phone into “Do Not Disturb” mode if a user puts their phone down with the screen facing down.

Apple also has introduced similar features that allow parents to limit the time their kids spend on iPhones and iPads, and also check their own online habits.

“We’re empowering people with the facts that will allow them to decide for themselves how they want to cut back,” Apple CEO Tim Cook told CNN previously while talking of the new features.

]]>https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/blue-light-phone-make-blind/feed/02090213https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/blue-light-phone-make-blind/Erdogan Takes On Trump! Turkey Boycotts US Electronics After Being Stabbed ‘In The Back’http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/valuewalk/tNbc/~3/FjjswKYO1Js/
https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/turkey-boycotts-us-electronics-iphone/#respondTue, 14 Aug 2018 14:20:02 +0000https://www.valuewalk.com/?p=2090187Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has outright rejected the notion that economic fundamentals are the reason behind the recent slide in Lira. On Tuesday, Erdogan announced that Turkey would boycott the US electronics products. His announcement came soon after the […]

]]>By R4BIA.com (http://www.r4bia.com/en/media-materials) [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has outright rejected the notion that economic fundamentals are the reason behind the recent slide in Lira. On Tuesday, Erdogan announced that Turkey would boycott the US electronics products. His announcement came soon after the US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Turkey. Trump has been increasing tariffs on imports of a variety of products to protect the US jobs and please voters.

How will Turkey boycott the US electronics?

Tensions between Turkey and the US have been escalating for weeks, and Turkish currency Lira has been a victim of the clash. Lira has declined more than 25% against the US dollar in the past month, but it jumped 6% on Tuesday. Speaking at the 17th anniversary of his Justice and Development Party, Erdogan said, “Whatever we buy from abroad we are going to produce here in better quality and export it. We are going to boycott US electronics.”

He touted local smartphone brands such as Vestel and Venus while attacking the iPhones. It is unclear how he intends to implement the boycott. Is he merely urging his countrymen to stop buying US electronics or will his government officially ban the import?

It has become a fight between Erdogan and Trump

Erdogan also accused the US of having stabbed its NATO ally “in the back.” The US President has imposed economic sanctions on Turkey over the detention of Andrew Brunson, who has been imprisoned in Turkey for the last 20 months. Trump claims the American pastor is innocent, and has demanded an immediate release of Brunson. Ankara has maintained that it was up to the courts to decide whether or when the pastor would be released.

Andrew Brunson has been accused of being involved in a failed coup attempt against Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2016. According to political pundits, the coup attempt was led by Fethullah Gülen of the Gülen political movement. Fethullah Gülen has been living in Pennsylvania for almost two decades. On Monday, Donald Trump signed a defense bill blocking Turkey’s access to the F-35 stealth fighter jet. Ironically, Ankara was directly involved in the development of the F-35.

It looks like Erdogan does not want to (or cannot afford to) back down or resolve the dispute. Erdogan has the reputation as a strong leader in his country. He doesn’t want to cave in to the White House by releasing Andrew Brunson. Instead, he said his country had become the target of an economic war by one of their long-time allies.

The Washington Institute’s Turkish research program director Soner Cagaptay said it was no longer a diplomatic spat between two countries. It has now become a direct confrontation between Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, especially over the release of Andrew Brunson. “This is a fight between the two presidents now,” said Cagaptay.

Donald Trump will likely keep slapping sanctions on Ankara until Andrew Brunson is released. According to Cagaptay, the sanctions will further strengthen Erdogan’s narrative that the US was “attacking us.”

Turkey’s economic woes continue to worsen

The Turkish economy has come under pressure due to the significant devaluation of Lira in the last few weeks. The currency recovered about 6% on Tuesday as the central bank announced new liquidity measures. The Turkish finance minister was also holding a conference call with about a thousand investors to reassure them about the economy. However, economists have warned that the currency crisis could spread through global markets. The Indian rupee has already hit the all-time lows amid Lira woes.

The Turkish economy has been losing its shine for quite some time due to double-digit inflation. Ankara has been reluctant to raise interest rates to curb the sky-high inflation. Investors have called for a tighter economic policy and a “concrete roadmap” to reduce inflation “permanently.”

]]>https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/turkey-boycotts-us-electronics-iphone/feed/02090187https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/turkey-boycotts-us-electronics-iphone/Companies Now Offer Customized Paths To Better Credit Repairhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/valuewalk/tNbc/~3/SKohOtlgdsM/
https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/companies-customized-credit-repair/#respondTue, 14 Aug 2018 14:14:14 +0000https://www.valuewalk.com/?p=2090206Americans struggle with bad credit, having a record of past failures to keep up with payments. Millions of people have bad or poor credit scores. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide an exact number. Numerous businesses that do credit […]

]]>Americans struggle with bad credit, having a record of past failures to keep up with payments. Millions of people have bad or poor credit scores. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide an exact number. Numerous businesses that do credit repair have come to the scene in recent years. This is a good thing. These organizations acknowledge the pain that individuals are in and lend a helping hand. As surprising as it may seem, achieving financial goals is possible and it is all thanks to credit repair services.

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How credit repair is supposed to work

Bad credit does not always stay bad. As mentioned earlier, there are companies out there whose job is to assist customers. What a credit repair company does is go through credit report items, identifying erroneous information. This takes time and effort. Financial service providers help people in their time of need, handling operations with high integrity and honesty. Many are under the impression that credit repair services are worthless. In other words, people believe that they can handle matters on their own. If they had known that businesses that do credit repair are hard-working, they would not doubt their efficiency. Top businesses follow up with their clients, as well as with the credit bureaus. What is more, they utilize many strategies to get the negative things removed from the credit report, helping clients meet their present and future financial goals.

When are credit repair companies worth it?

There are situations that require the help of a professional. When should one hire a credit repair company to work on their behalf? When debt collectors are calling every single day or the credit report makes it impossible to get a new job, it is necessary to act right away. Walking around with poor credit is difficult. Virtually all credit repair services make tremendous efforts so as to remove negative aspects from the client’s credit report. People who are struggling with late payments or credit inquiries have to reach out to professionals for assistance. Attention needs to be paid to the fact that credit repair services serve two divisions: consumers and businesses. There are programs that are specifically designed to monitor and correct information that is hurting enterprises.

Business credit is not the same thing as personal credit. There are established rules for companies looking to take out a credit card or a loan. Business credit scores are based on the Paydex score. The numerical score is based on payment history. It is true that just about anyone is able to see business credit reports. Yet, it is equally true that not everyone is in the position to take action. The fact of the matter is that credit repair services offer regular consumers, as well as businesses, customized paths to better credit and they should take advantage of this opportunity.

Credit repair scams

The vast majority of businesses that do credit repair have good intensions. Their only wish is to help consumers get through difficult times. Nonetheless, there are service providers that scam people. They take the money of innocent individuals, promising them to dispute the negative information. Instead of doing that, the credit repair companies just remove the information for a limited amount of time, after which it appears again on the official document. The cases of fraud have been few, but that does not mean that consumers should not be on the lookout. Reading online reviews might turn out to be useful.

]]>https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/companies-customized-credit-repair/feed/02090206https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/companies-customized-credit-repair/Genoa Bridge Collapsed In Italy, Dozens Deadhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/valuewalk/tNbc/~3/FQt6eLnQV9I/
https://www.valuewalk.com/2018/08/genoa-bridge-collapsed-in-italy-dozens-dead/#respondTue, 14 Aug 2018 13:47:00 +0000https://www.valuewalk.com/?p=2090204A bridge in Genoa, Italy, known as Ponte Morandi collapsed today, trapping dozens beneath the rubble. There have been 11 confirmed dead in the Genoa bridge collapse, but the death toll is expected to continue to rise. The bridge collapsed […]

A bridge in Genoa, Italy, known as Ponte Morandi collapsed today, trapping dozens beneath the rubble. There have been 11 confirmed dead in the Genoa bridge collapse, but the death toll is expected to continue to rise.

The bridge collapsed around 11:30 am local time. The Genoa bridge collapse didn’t just impact those driving along the bridge, debris and rubble has also destroyed homes beneath the bridge and crushed the railway tracks. Those driving on the section of the bridge that collapsed plummeted 328 feet.

Official Response

Firefighters and paramedics expect to find dozens more killed by the collapse. 200 firefighters along with dozens of police officers and paramedics are working to clear the rubble to find any survivors. So far they have pulled three survivors from the rubble thanks to the help of trained police dogs. One report claims there are at least 10 cars trapped beneath the rubble.

Italian Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said, “I’m following with great apprehension what has happened in Genoa, which appears to be an immense tragedy.”

The head of the local ambulance services, Francesco Bermano, issued a statement reading:

“The size of this disaster is epochal, there are dozens of deaths, including people who fell from the bridge and those who remained trapped underneath the rubble.

“The firefighters and paramedics are working to pull out from the rubbles the victims, some have already been taken to various hospital in Genoa.

“We have received the full support of nearby regions Lombardy and Piedmont, all their hospitals are available to us.

“We are working but at the moment we still can’t figure out how dramatic the situation really is.”

Why did the Genoa Bridge Collapse?

Authorities have not yet revealed what caused the Genoa bridge collapse. One local media outlet claims the collapse was caused by a structural failure. The collapse could have also been caused by the severe weather in Northern Italy. The region is experiencing dangerously heavy rainfalls, which the national weather service warned could cause landslides and other disasters.

Eyewitness accounts claim they saw the central pillar of the bridge collapse before the structure imploded amid the heavy rainfall. Another eyewitness claims to have seen lightning strike the bridge before it collapsed.

The Ponte Morandi was originally built in the 1960s before being refurbished in 2016.